Wasteful Stimulus Spending (Breaking on Drudge)

Before they built the toad tunnel in Calif there were frogs in the pond, After they built it, there were no frogs.

Construction tends to disturb the ecosystem and can have unintended consequences.

Before they passed “government health care” there was doctors and hospitals you could go to if you needed help...

I am a disabled senior, and I get the government (tax Payer) food distributions..the ham you are referring to according to my package that I got this month was by cloughety packing LL. Los angles. ca.I also got a 5 lb bag of frozen blue berries, Any one can go and get these government hand outs, if you are low income, that is not really low either .this distribution is not the same as the food banks..All this food is identified as coming from the dept of agriculture... This food distribution has been going on for at least 40 years that I know of.. The cheese lately it has been from arden minn..Land O Lakes is given out from the local food bank, along with a host of other foods.. and here in san diego county there is a waiting list of over 2000 to get on it.. must be a senior..with lowish income..The canned pork I have received as well.. it is like a roast pork, that has been canned.. the ham was sliced and delicious. I had some for lunch in my salad. I also get juices, cereals, dried milk, mashed potatoes, frozen whole chicken, frozen cut up chickens. at different months,the tax payers pay for such a variety of foods it is mind boggling.. Like I say this has been on going. I do not feel bad or guilty, taking tax payers food distrubiton.. I realize who pays for it.. and I am grateful.I would not be eating as well without it

They have made an official statement....ROFL:

Response to Drudge Item on Recovery Act Funding

Release No. 0322.09
Contact:
Office of Communication 202-720-4623

Response to Drudge Item on Recovery Act Funding

	Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

	"Through the Recovery Act, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has made $100 million available to the states for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), which acquires food that is distributed to local organizations that assist the needy – including food banks, food pantries, and soup kitchens. The Recovery Act funds referenced in press reports allowed states to purchase ham, cheese and dairy products for these food banks, soup kitchens and food pantries that provide assistance to people who otherwise do not have access to food. This program will help reduce hunger of those hardest hit by the current economic recession. The references to "2 pound frozen ham sliced" are to the sizes of the packaging. Press reports suggesting that the Recovery Act spent $1.191 million to buy "2 pounds of ham" are wrong. In fact, the contract in question purchased 760,000 pounds of ham for $1.191 million, at a cost of approximately $1.50 per pound. In terms of the dairy purchase referenced, USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) purchased 837,936 pounds of mozzarella cheese and 4,039,200 pounds of processed cheese. The canned pork purchase was 8,424,000 pounds at a cost of $16,784,000, or approximately $1.99 per pound. While the principal purpose of these expenditures is to provide food to those hardest hit by these tough times, the purchases also provide a modest economic benefit of benefiting Americans working at food retailers, manufacturers and transportation companies as well as the farmers and ranchers who produce our food supply."

For me this is a tough call. Like at least one Freeper shared, they are grateful for the food they get from this program, as they are a disabled senior, most likely on a shoe string budget. I’d rather see more tax payer money put into programs that do feed people that need the gift then the fat cats at GS and other entities who get 300K bonuses for doing absolutely nothing to earn it.

Understand. And I must acknowledge that any government hand outs do fall under the guise of socialism. Such programs are better handled by honest brokers such as church groups, whatever, that get donations from those that can afford to help the needy. As has been the case for so long in this country.
No response required. I know you understand the differences. I just threw in how I think the needy should be helped. And it is not through government ran programs.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.